China-supported water project drives down schistosomiasis cases in Tanzania — Xinhua [2026-03-24] - Lemmy
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Local residents fetch clean water at a public tap installed under a China-aided
clean water project in Chaani, Zanzibar, Tanzania, March 22, 2026.
(Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, March 23 (Xinhua) – Gratitude and
hope now define daily life for Juma Makame Mohamed and Huzaima Bakari Haji, two
residents of Chaani whose community has been transformed by a China-supported
clean water project. “We are grateful for the arrival of the Chinese project in
our community,” said 38-year-old Mohamed. For years, the Chaani community relied
on rivers and unreliable water systems. When supplies from the Zanzibar Water
Authority ran dry, sometimes for days, residents had no choice but to fetch
water from unsafe sources. “That water was not safe. Children and adults were
exposed to risks,” Mohamed recalled. Today, with the turn of a tap, clean water
flows steadily, thanks to a China-aided initiative implemented in partnership
with the World Health Organization and the Zanzibar government. The change has
been profound. More than 250 residents in the Chaani community now have access
to safe water, instead of relying on contaminated rivers that were once a major
source of infection. “Schistosomiasis has reduced significantly,” Mohamed said.
“Children are now much healthier because we no longer bathe in the river.”
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease linked to contaminated freshwater, has long
affected rural communities across Zanzibar. In Chaani, crowded riverbanks once
served as hubs for daily activities, increasing exposure to the disease. “Before
the project, we had to fetch water from rivers, even when it was dirty after
rain,” said 27-year-old Huzaima Bakari Haji. “Children often suffered from
stomach pains and illnesses.” Now, clean water is available within the Chaani
community. “We fetch water right here. Life is easier, and people can focus on
other work,” she said. “There are almost no cases of schistosomiasis now. It has
reduced significantly.” The project’s impact extends beyond health, as improved
access to water has freed up time for economic activities and household
responsibilities. “In the past, you had to spend hours fetching water,” Mohamed
said. “Now you go to the tap and continue with your day.” According to Rashid
Saleh Khamis, deputy program manager for neglected tropical diseases in
Zanzibar, the success is rooted in close cooperation with Chinese experts. “We
are working closely with our Chinese colleagues to control and possibly
eliminate schistosomiasis,” he said. The initiative combines safe water supply,
health education, mass treatment and environmental control. Teams have also
conducted awareness campaigns and targeted the snails that carry the parasite.
“Spraying has killed nearly 100 percent of the host snails in affected water
bodies,” Khamis said, noting a significant drop in infection rates. Earlier
interventions on Pemba Island reduced prevalence from around 20 percent to below
10 percent. The program has since expanded to Unguja, including the North A
District, where Chaani is located. For Wang Wei, leader of the Chinese expert
team, water infrastructure plays a central role in breaking the disease cycle.
“We built three water towers with 24 supply points in total,” he said. “This
ensures access to clean water while reducing waterborne diseases.” The project
is part of a broader China-Africa health cooperation effort that began in 2016,
combining China’s experience in disease control with local implementation and
international support. Looking ahead, Wang, also a professor at China’s Jiangsu
Institute of Parasitic Diseases, said plans are in place to expand similar water
supply systems across Unguja Island, further strengthening disease prevention
and improving living conditions. ■
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A water tower built under a China-aided clean water project is seen in Chaani,
Zanzibar, Tanzania, March 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)
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A child drinks water from a tap installed under a China-aided clean water
project in Chaani, Zanzibar, Tanzania, March 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman)
::: > A China-aided clean water project in Zanzibar has significantly reduced
schistosomiasis cases in the Chaani community, where more than 250 residents now
have access to safe water instead of relying on contaminated rivers.
“Schistosomiasis has reduced significantly. Children are now much healthier
because we no longer bathe in the river,” said resident Juma Makame Mohamed. The
initiative—implemented with the World Health Organization and the Zanzibar
government—combines safe water supply, health education, mass treatment, and
snail control. “Spraying has killed nearly 100 percent of the host snails in
affected water bodies,” said Rashid Saleh Khamis, deputy program manager for
neglected tropical diseases in Zanzibar. Chinese expert team leader Wang Wei
noted the project built “three water towers with 24 supply points in total,”
with plans to expand similar systems across Unguja Island.
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